Bill Thomas Profile

Dr. Bill Thomas is a professor at UMBC’s Erickson School of Aging, a musician, an author of six books and a world-renowned authority on geriatric medicine and eldercare. In his quest to reshape long-term care globally, Bill founded The Eden Alternative, a global non-profit with a philosophy of radical critique of long-term care and creative ways to “change the culture” of nursing homes. The Eden Alternative now has affiliates in Japan, Australia, Scandinavia, Europe, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Bill also founded the Green House Project, a radical alternative to nursing homes that creates small, intentional communities where 7-10 elders and staff focus on living full and vibrant lives. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently awarded $15 million to support rapid replication of the model.

Bill has won several awards, including the Ashoka Fellowship, America’s Award, Heinz Award and Giraffe Award. He has been interviewed by CNN, 48 Hours, Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Fast Company, The New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek Magazine, Time Magazine, and The CBS Early Show. US News World Report Magazine chose Bill as one of “America’s Best Leaders.”

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“What we need is a radical reinterpretation of longevity that makes elders (and their needs) central to our collective pursuit of happiness and well-being.” – Dr. Bill Thomas

Dr. Bill Thomas is a visionary leader in the online Changing Aging movement and a world-renowned authority on geriatric medicine and eldercare. Bill is founder of two movements to reshape long-term care globally – The Eden Alternative and Green House Project.

Bill’s Eden Alternative philosophy put forward a radical critique of long-term care and offered a creative way to “change the culture” of nursing homes by bringing growth and laughter into the lives of elders. Now a global non-profit, the Eden Alternative has affiliates in Japan, Australia, Scandinavia, Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom and all 50 states. Bill continues to serve as president.

A self-described “nursing-home abolitionist”, Bill recognized that America’s nursing home buildings are “aging faster than the people living inside them.” This led him to imagine a radical alternative to nursing homes that became known as the Green House® Project. The model creates small, intentional communities where 7-10 elders and staff focus on living full and vibrant lives. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded $15 million to support rapid replication of the model in all 50 states.

Recipient of numerous awards, including the Ashoka Fellowship, America’s Award, Heinz Award and Giraffe Award, Bill is also a professor at UMBC’s Erickson School of Aging, a musician, author of six books and an insatiable social media consumer and blogger.

Bill is frequently interviewed by a broad range of television, radio and print media including CNN, 48 Hours, Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Fast Company ,The New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek Magazine, Time Magazine, The CBS Early Show, and was chosen by US News World Report Magazine as one of “America′s best leaders”

Bill Thomas Speaking Videos

TEDxSF - Bill Thomas - Elderhood Rising: The Dawn of a New World Age

In his presentation at "TEDx San Francisco", Bill discusses how few geriatricians are currently practicing in the aging society of the U.S., including himself. This, Thomas said, is due to ageism. He explained that ageism is acceptable in society today, saying, “If you go around making jokes based on another person’s gender, that’s sexism; if you make jokes about another person’s race, that’s racism; but if you joke about somebody’s age, that’s called ‘situation comedy.’”

Thomas added that all of the leading “experts” on aging are “anti-aging gurus.” He concluded that aging is treated as a “technical problem” in American society. However, he said, “It’s not a technical problem, it’s a design problem.

Bill Thomas Keynote Speech

Bill Thomas at the Senior Living Innovation Forum

Bill Thomas at the Senior Living Innovation Forum

Bill Thomas Challenges Senior Housing Industry

Bill Thomas Aging on Islands Conference keynote

TEDxSF - Bill Thomas - Elderhood Rising: The Dawn of a New World Age

Bill Thomas Keynote Speech

Bill Thomas at the Senior Living Innovation Forum

Bill Thomas at the Senior Living Innovation Forum

Bill Thomas Challenges Senior Housing Industry

Bill Thomas Aging on Islands Conference keynote

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Bill Thomas's Speech Descriptions

Suggested Programs:

Creating an Elder-Rich Society: Aging in Community

What Are Old People For? How Elders will Save the World

Eldertopia: The Rise of a New Old Age

Communities by Intention, Families by Affection: The Rise of a New Old Age

Effective Medication Management in an Aging Society

Health Care in the 21st Century- Rediscovering the Art of Caring

Wise Use: A biopsycosocial perspective on the epidemic of polypharmacy